Rebecca Zanetti - Tamed

Wide enough for two, a claw-foot tub lay in the far corner next to a toilet and a shower. A cursory search of drawers failed to reveal potential weapons. She hurriedly washed blood off her bare arms and hands. Then she brushed her messy hair from her face, gathering courage at the glimmer of the diamond earrings Caleb had given her.

A knock sounded on the door.

Smoothing down her skirt, she padded in her bare feet across the velvety carpet and opened the door, drawing on her professional smile.

Franco stood in the hallway dressed in full black Kurjan uniform with red medals adorning his chest. He’d pulled his black hair back in a band, the ends turning the customary blood red. The purple of his eyes deepened in his stark-white face as he looked down from his seven-foot height. “Lily.” The word emerged as a satisfied growl as his gaze dropped to her breasts.

Lily fought to keep her smile in place. “You forgot to include the sweater, Franco.”

The smile he flashed showed sharp fangs. “I forgot nothing.” He held out his arm, as regal as any prince. “You must be hungry after your ordeal.”

“Ordeal?” She slid her hand through his arm, cataloging weapons. His waist holster held a gun, and his thick boots probably hid another, along with a knife. “That’s a fine description of being Tasered, knocked out, and kidnapped.”

“I do apologize for the rough treatment.” He closed her door. “Perhaps the nicely decorated suite lifted your mood?”

She glanced up in surprise. He was serious. The guy actually thought he’d done something nice for her. Okay. She could play along for the moment. “I do love flowers.”

Relief crossed his pasty face. “I’m so glad.”

“Where are we, anyway?” she asked.

“A temporary stronghold in northern Oregon. We only had a small window of time before the vampires’ helicopters could give chase. Don’t worry, we’ll move again soon. This time to my headquarters in Canada.” He led her down a long hallway to a dining room full of antique furniture, pure crystal, and original oil paintings from the masters. A bouquet of fresh lilies served as the centerpiece on a Louis XV walnut dining table. Prophet Guiles stood across the table as they entered.

She cut him a hard look. “Guiles.”

He blushed, his shoulders going back. “I did what I had to do.”

Franco pulled out a chair and settled Lily into it before crossing to the head of the table to sit. “I have to admit, dining with two prophets has never been on my bucket list.” He smiled and unfolded his napkin. “Having all three under my roof is certainly nothing I’d ever considered.”

Lily took a sip of water from a crystal glass. She needed to find out about Caleb, but she had to be careful. “What’s your plan?”

A pregnant woman balanced a tray of soup bowls she delivered gracefully to each of them.

Franco smiled. “Lily, this is Beatrix. She’s mated to my second in command, Dyne.”

The woman nodded, her gaze downcast as she hustled from the room.

Lily lifted an eyebrow. “I thought you had a relative named Kalin as your second in command.” Kalin, the Kurjan butcher, was both crazy and dangerous.

Franco’s red lips tightened into a white line. “Kalin has turned against me, and I have ordered his death. He will not walk the earth much longer.” Franco slipped his spoon into his soup. “Dyne is a distant cousin and does his job well. He’s the ideal enforcer.”

An ideal Kurjan killed well and on demand. What about the poor pregnant woman? Obviously, she’d been human before being mated. Had they given her a choice? Lily took another sip of water. “Why is Guiles still alive?” Those who made deals with Kurjans usually died.

The prophet coughed and glared at her. “Be nice.”

“He’s alive because I haven’t killed him yet.” Franco licked his spoon clean. “Eat your soup, Lily.”

She took a sip, tasting nothing. “So the agreement to attend the peace talks was false.”

Surprise lifted Franco’s eyebrows. “Not at all. I fully intended to participate, and I still do. But when Prophet Guiles contacted me with his offer, I really couldn’t refuse. I’ve wanted you for centuries, as you know.”

“Why?” Lily whispered, her gaze on Guiles. “Why did you do this?”

“To protect myself.” He slurped his soup. “The visions didn’t lie. If I stayed with the vampires, Janie Kayrs would end up with my marking. I made a deal with Franco to exchange you for protection.”

Hurt spiraled down Lily’s chest. “What about your loyalty to Dage? He saved you.”

“I know.” Guiles rubbed his chin. “My loyalty to him is still true. I believe I can help the Realm more than Janie Kayrs can, and I need to remain a prophet to do so. It’s the only way I can protect him.”

Fire shot through Lily’s veins. “Keep telling yourself that. I thought we were friends.”

Guiles stopped eating. Sorrow glowed from his eyes. “Me, too. But suddenly, faced with death, friendship didn’t seem as important.”

“They won’t let you live,” she whispered. He no longer mattered, so she turned her attention to Franco. “I can’t be mated.”

“Now.” Franco finished his soup with a low hum of appreciation. “Once we cure the virus in your veins, you’ll be able to mate again.”

“So you haven’t found the cure for the virus.” Another hope dashed.

“No, but we will. In the meantime, by the stench of vampire I can smell all over you, I guess you can have sex.” Anger spiraled crimson into his high cheekbones.

Caleb’s scent would stay with her for at least a week, even though they weren’t mated. Was he still alive? She met Franco’s gaze. “You’re not a rapist, and I’m not having sex with you.” She threw her napkin on top of her soup bowl. God, she hoped she’d read him right. His ego wouldn’t allow him to take a woman against her will.

“Oh, you’ll come willingly,” he said, pure malice in his tone.

“You’re wrong.”

He sighed wearily. “We might as well get this over with.” Standing and grabbing her arm, he yanked her back into the hallway.

She struggled, her bare feet sliding on the thick carpet and not hampering his movements at all.

“Wait—” Guiles said from behind them, his breath huffing as he ran to catch up. “You promised you wouldn’t hurt her. That you’d court her slowly and try to talk her into a merger between the Kurjans and the Realm.”

Lily glanced over her shoulder, fire shooting through her. “You believed that? You moron.”

Guiles grabbed Franco’s arm, and the Kurjan swept out, shooting Guiles into the wall. He impacted with a crash, denting the concrete.

Lily struggled against Franco’s hold. “Where are we going?”

“To see the other prophet. I believe you need to say good-bye,” Franco said.

Caleb shook blood out of his hair and stuck his pinkie in his ear to get the rest of it. They’d clocked him a good one, and by the sluggish movement of his blood, they’d drugged him, too. He’d been unconscious long enough to be taken from the helicopter and dropped into a cement cell. Fresh cement with shiny, new silver bars.

Wherever they were, it was a temporary setup. The Kurjans had been smart to grab Lily and lie low before moving her again.

But not as smart as he. He grinned through bloodied lips, the room swaying. This was why a guy always planned for war and never expected peace.

An outside door opened, and Franco strode inside, dragging Lily.

She gasped and rushed to grab the bars. “Are you all right?”

He frowned at the bustier that revealed way too much, his thoughts still murky. “What are you wearing?”